Maureen Michalski, with Schafer Richardson, has applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness application. The Certificate of Appropriateness application is to allow for a rehabilitation of the Gurley Candy Factory at 900 3rd Street North in the Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District. The rehabilitation proposal includes replacement windows (including opening window openings to original size), new window openings on the northwest elevation, construction of a loading dock on 9th Street North, limited repointing, site improvements (including increasing the surface parking lot from ten spaces to 13 spaces and landscaping), elevator addition, and replacement of the concrete masonry units (CMU) on the northwest elevation with stucco.

Staff Recommendation: The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the Heritage Preservation Commission adopt staff findings and approve the Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the proposed rehabilitation project of the Gurley Candy Factory Building located at 900 3rd Street North, subject to the following conditions:

By ordinance, approvals are valid for a period of two years from the date of the decision unless required permits are obtained and the action approval is substantially begun and proceeds in a continuous basis toward completion. Upon written request and for good cause, the planning director may grant up to a one year extension if the request is made in writing no later than May 14, 2015.

By ordinance, all approvals granted in this Certificate of Appropriateness shall remain in effect as long as all of the conditions and guarantees of such approvals are observed. Failure to comply with such conditions and guarantees shall constitute a violation of this Certificate of Appropriateness and may result in termination of the approval.

Community Planning and Economic Development staff shall review and approve the final plans and elevations prior to building permit issuance.

New mortar shall duplicate the original mortar’s composition, color, texture, joint width, and joint profile. When completing the repointing work, abrasive cleaning techniques, such as sandblasting or high-pressure water wash shall not be used.

Glazing shall be clear. Low E and other energy-efficient glazing is acceptable.

The rooftop mechanical equipment shall not exceed 14 feet in height measured from the structural roof deck of the existing building.

The parking area along 9th Avenue North shall be screened by a landscaped yard three feet in depth and plantings three feet in in height and not less than sixty (60) percent opaque.

Paul Nolan with RJ Marco Construction Inc., on behalf of Office Minneapolis LLC, has applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness application for alterations to the property at 307 Washington Avenue North, a contributing property in the Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District. Alterations include new ground floor windows and a door on the front of the building, new awnings and signage on the front of the building, and a new covered deck and trellis on the back of the building.

Staff Recommendation: The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the Heritage Preservation Commission continue the Certificate of Appropriateness application to allow modifications for the property located at 307 Washington Avenue North for one cycle to the June 4, 2013, Heritage Preservation Commission meeting.

The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) has applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness application to allow for the replacement of two existing family play areas within Minnehaha Regional Park located on the properties at 4901 46th Avenue South and 4901 Minnehaha Avenue. Minnehaha Regional Park is located on the National Register of Historic Places and locally designated within the Minnehaha Historic District. The applicant proposes to replace play areas in the Wabun Picnic Area as well as in the North Plateau Area; both sites are located in the northern portion of the park and are accessed off of Godfrey Parkway.

Staff Recommendation: The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the Heritage Preservation Commission adopt staff findings and approve the Certificate of Appropriateness to allow for the replacement of two existing family play areas within Minnehaha Park located on the properties at 4901 46th Avenue South and 4901 Minnehaha Avenue subject to the following condition(s):

The Applicant shall obtain all other necessary City approvals prior to the commencement of work.

By ordinance, approvals are valid for a period of two years from the date of the decision unless required permits are obtained and the action approval is substantially begun and proceeds in a continuous basis toward completion. Upon written request and for good cause, the planning director may grant up to a one year extension if the request is made in writing no later than May 14, 2015.

By ordinance, all approvals granted in this Certificate of Appropriateness shall remain in effect as long as all of the conditions and guarantees of such approvals are observed. Failure to comply with such conditions and guarantees shall constitute a violation of this Certificate of Appropriateness and may result in termination of the approval.

Final plans shall comply with The Minnehaha Park Renovation Plan as noted within this report.

Information Items

Concept review on the proposed exterior rehabilitation; interior and site work will not be addressed at this time. The proposed program for the building is creative office space. Aside from extensive repair, the building envelope will remain largely unchanged.

The next regular Heritage Preservation Commission meeting: June 4, 2013

Heritage Preservation Commission decisions are final unless appealed.

Attention: The meeting site is wheelchair accessible: if you need other disability related accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter or materials in alternative format, please contact 612.673.3220 (673.2157) TTDY/VOICE at least five days prior to the meeting.